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David Morgante: Terrorism Studies / International Crime

David Morgante

Terrorism Studies / International Crime

B.S., June 2008

Magna cum Laude

Thomas W. Smith Academic Fellowship

Harriet Brows Fellowship

Dean’s List

David Morgante is a Marine Corps Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom who chose CUNY Baccalaureate to build his unique areas in Terrorism Studies and International Crime as a way to continue to protect the people of the United States through a career in federal law enforcement.

As a Marine, Morgante was stationed in a variety of overseas locations and developed a love of living, traveling and learning with people of different cultures. He received a Marine Corps Certificate of Commendation for his exceptional work building positive relations among American forces, Iraqi forces and Iraqi civilians. As a result, he desires a career with the U.S. Department of State, ideally as a criminal investigator. He says, “My studies include courses such as ‘Terrorism and International Relations’ and ‘The United Nations and International Politics’; Special Agents make decisions based on foreign policy and knowledge of terrorism and so my academic preparation ties directly into my career goals.”

Morgante’s local and national community service started in high school when he volunteered with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Lake Carmel Fire Department (where he continues to serve). The catastrophic events of September 11th inspired him to further service and so he enlisted in the Marine Corps. Because of his high aptitude scores, he was offered a position in Security Forces and was deployed to Spain on anti-terrorist security missions.

His coursework has been in History, Government, Political Science and Interdisciplinary Studies at John Jay College under the direction of Profs. Peter Romaniuk, Government and Joseph King, Law and Criminal Justice, John Jay. He included a senior-level seminar on Terrorism and two internships, one at the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector and the other with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Morgante plans to continue his education on the graduate level; he has already been accepted to the Master’s program in Protection Management at John Jay College.

Morgante says “”I owe great thanks to CUNY BA/BS. Today I received my formal ‘conditional offer of employment’ from the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service. I could be heading off to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center as early as this summer. (I was also recently offered an internship with the Regional Security Officer in Skopje, Macedonia through the State Department, but cannot do both, unfortunately.) CUNY BA/BS has been nothing less than phenomenal. I’ve been able to focus in on very unique coursework, and I’ve been able to progress with extreme efficiency. I couldn’t have made a better decision with my education.”

Today, Morgante is indeed living his dream; assigned to the New York Field Office of the Diplomatic Security Service, he works on both criminal investigations as well as protective security services (he recently provided protection for Prince Harry’s visit to New York!).